Wests Tigers official podcast Behind The Roar is shining a light on some of the club’s younger players over summer, as preparations continue ahead of the 2024 NRL season.
BTR is available on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.
The pre-season series includes five players who are on NRL Development contracts and five who are part of the club’s top-30 roster. Six are yet to make their NRL debut, and all but one has played in Wests Tigers pathways teams.
This week we chat to ball-playing forward, Justin Matamua who is preparing to enter his third season in the NRL.
He talks about the growing number of pathways players in our top-30 squad, how he's handling pre-season training, his expectations for next season, and a whole lot more.
The Campbelltown junior admits pre-season has been tough but says he came back from the post-season break in decent shape.
“Fitness wise I was pretty happy making my time trials and that, but it has been tough," Matamua said.
"One of the hardest days is when you do the con [conditioning] and the distance stuff and then later you do legs in the gym.
I’m enjoying it though, getting fitter and getting stronger with my teammates.
Justin Matamua
The 20-year-old is now one of the ‘older’ pathways players to have progressed to Wests Tigers top-30.
“It’s great to see so many of the guys I played junior footy with now getting a chance in the NRL,” said Matamua.
“It’s a bonus for me that I know a lot of these boys so well, as we’ve all followed a similar path.”
Matamua is hoping to build on his seven NRL appearances in 2024 in a team that is playing consistently well.
As a whole we have to remember to live by our standards in training and in life.
Justin Matamua
“It’s important that when times get tough that we’re in it together, and we can’t break as a team."
